Shimelba refugee camp is the oldest camp in Shire Operation. It has a population of 5,690 people (UNHCR Refugee Population Data as of June 2017). The camp is populated predominantly by the Kunama ethnic group, which constitutes 63.67% and the Tigrigna ethnic group, which constitutes 32.3%. Other minority ethnic groups like Saho, Tegre, Nara and Afar constitute 4.3%.
IHS has been working with Eritrean refugees since January 2014 with the main focus being Shimelba Refugee Camp and Endabaguna Transit Center. The main programs in the Shimelba Refugee Camp concentrate on Child Protection and Livelihood. The programs in the Endabaguna Transit Center concentrate on Child Protection and Sanitation. IHS strives to improve the lives of Eritrean refugees and their children in all of the programs.